This course helps students to develop a broad view of design technology, developing skills in both creative designing of a product and following it through to the completion of the constructed product. It enables students to appreciate the complex relations between designs, materials, manufacture and marketing. Product Design provides students with the opportunity to be creative in thought and then develop the creative ideas into a finished product relating this to its place in the current markets.
Exam Board/Specification
Pearson Edexcel
Modules/Units
Topic 1: Materials
Topic 2: Performance characteristics of materials
Topic 3: Processes and techniques
Topic 4: Digital technologies
Topic 5: Factors influencing the development of products
Topic 6: Effects of technological developments
Topic 7: Potential hazards and risk assessment
Topic 8: Features of manufacturing industries
Topic 9: Designing for maintenance and the cleaner environment
Topic 10: Current legislation
Topic 11: Information handling, Modelling and forward planning
Topic 12: Further processes and techniques.
Assessment
Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes, 50% of the qualification, 120 marks
Design and Make a Project: 50% of the qualification, 120 marks
Progression Routes
Product Design candidates may enter career areas where they make daily use of their subject knowledge and skills. Of those who do, a significant proportion work in multi-disciplinary teams. In such teams, they could be working alongside electrical, mechanical and software engineers; colleagues from marketing and others who are materials specialists, for example. Job areas related to your degree include:
Engineering – Electrical, Electronic and Telecommunications – Mechanical,Automotive and Aerospace – Product Design